Can Knoppix run XP ??

Hi Everyone,
I would hope everyone is in a better place than I am. I have a not soo new Acer Piece of Junk that can only run the worst software in the whold world : M.S.V. . Somehow they buggered it up so it won't run XP or 2000 Pro. . I would like to know if it is possible to install Knoppix on this computer and then install XP or 2000 Pro as an option to the O.S. and if it is is it very complicated?
I would like to have my old O.S. back, Vista is giving me an enormouse head ACHE !

Assuming Vista can even 'boot-up'( it needs at least 2 Gb just to catch it's breath), it seems as tho you should have no problem running practically ANY linux distro. You ought to completely wipe the hard disc, install Linux first [ as the GRUB boot loader is much better than MS's (no surprise..) ]. As to a recommendation, I would try DamnSmallLinux or perhaps an older Ubuntu version. Vector Linux Light and Puppy Linux are also excellent on older (less memory req's.) PC's. You should then be able to dual-boot with Linux and Windows. You might look into VMWare to run Windows as a VM while inLinux.

To echo the suggestions about virtual OS's that's exactly how I run WinXP within Ubuntu using Virtual Box ( which I found easier to set up than VMWare, and is free too ). A virtual OS doesn't have direct access to hardware so it can't do everything that a native install can but the problems only tend to arise when dealing with games that use direct access to speed things up. Most other software plays nicely with the OS and works fine. Note that this isn't a dual-boot scenario - the virtual OS is run as if it's just another program but in the case of Windows, if it's going to be put on-line it still needs the same virus / malware protection though infections picked up cannot jump to the host Linux system.

So how did you conclude that xp can't be installed? Does the xp install not show there is a hard drive available for install or something? If so, maybe you could check for a special setting in the BIOS that switches between AHCI and IDE SATA emulation mode. Since XP is so old, it doesn't see AHCI unless you slipstream drivers into the install medium. And although you may be able to achieve the loading of these drivers with a floppy drive during the startup process of the XP install, it's easier to flip the AHCI switch. Or is it that the machine does not have a cdrom drive? If this is the case, could you get a cdrom that has a usb interface and run the install disk from that? Once you have XP installed, you could then load GNU/Linux after words and have the choice of either. Not that I'm advocating the use of windows at all... heh.

I wouldn't put using a virtual OS in the 'easy' category. There's a learning curve that you need to go through but it's not a particularly difficult one, and there's lots of help out there to guide you if you get lost - LOL.

It seems to me that if the Acer will run Windows Vista, it should certainly run XP or XP Pro. Perhaps the problem is not the OS but the proper drivers to interface with XP. What is the Acer Model number?

You should also make it clear that if someone does install Windows XP, they will have to activate it. If they don't understand how to do that in VMware or other Virtualization program, Windows won't work, or it will work only until the deadline is up. I had problems getting Windows XP to use my Internet connection to activate Windows.

Good point Dennis - yes the OS you install still has to be a valid one and in the case of WinXP upwards needs this activation step just as it would on a native install. So you still need a valid COA key. If you don't intend using a virtual Windows OS on-line you still have to activate but there's always the telephone option of course.

Try virtual box. Knopix is used for forensic work on another system or
resurrect files that had been written off. But if you want to use it for
"coolness factor" then knock your sox off. After all it is an awesome tool to
have in your magic box of goodies.??